The Fiendish Experiment




Each anniversary of the founding of the Empire, the Trigan Air Fleet gave a thrilling display over the Imperial City. This particular year, the high spot of the display was a demonstration of aerobatics by two fighter-craft chained together ! The Emperor Trigo and his brother Brag watched from the balcony of the Imperial Palace. That lad of yours and young Vella are not only the finest pilots in the air fleet, but they have the blind courage of youth ! Humph !—I’ve done some crazy things in my time, but nothing on Elekton would induce me to try that trick ! Later, the two craft landed. Janno and his comrade Vella grinned across at each other. Thank the stars that’s over ! Agreed ! We must never try it again— eventual disaster is a mathematical certainty ! Moments later, Vella was accosted. A few words in your ear, Lieutenant ! Message from a friend ! Oh ! How dare you come here on the air base ? Do you people want to ruin me ? It might come to that, Lieutenant —unless you pay up like a gentleman !
Give me time . . . please ! You’ve had time. The message is that, unless you settle your debts by the end of the lunar month, Lord Janno will be told that his friend is a gambler and a cheat ! If that happens I shall be ruined ! Thrown out of the Air Fleet in disgrace . . . But I can’t pay up . . . I haven’t a zerst piece to bless myself with ! Vella managed to conceal his private problem that evening, when he accompanied Janno on a visit to the laboratory of the great scientist Peric. Yes, gentlemen, I am on the threshold of several new discoveries which will revolutionise our way of life on this planet. All Elekton is in your debt, Peric, for the great work you have already done. You must be a very happy man. Happy ? Yes, perhaps. But I have done things, in the cause of science, that give me cause for regret. This invention, for instance, would be worth a fortune to anyone who could get his hands on it. But it is a thing of evil . . . utter evil . . . and I wish I could bring myself to burn the papers. When his companions’ backs were turned, it was an easy matter for Vella to slip the red folder inside his tunic. Enough of science for one evening. Come and have supper. Worth a fortune, eh ? Then I’ll borrow the papers for a while. The old fool will never miss them. That night, Vella studied the contents of the purloined folder. When dawn came, he was filled with mingled triumph and terror. Either Peric is raving mad, or what I have here is the key to riches beyond belief . . . . . . if only I have the courage to submit myself to the dreadful experiment described here !

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 550 on 29 July 1972.

 

The Duplication Machine (continued . . .)




Nightly and in great secrecy, Robi made use of the strange device in his master's laboratory. Nothing can stop me now— nothing ! The device was capable of duplicating any precious object placed within it. There was only one snag—it would only make one copy of each object, and the duplicates could not be copied. What's more, the law cannot touch me—for I commit no crime ! The activities of Robi's henchman mystified and worried the Commissioner of the Trigan City Police. He reported it to the Emperor. . . . a series of the strangest thefts that has ever come into my experience, Imperial Majesty ! Only items of the greatest value are taken—and then returned to where they belong within a few hours ! This raises a puzzling point of law, Commissioner—is it a crime, in the Trigan Empire, to borrow another person's possessions without asking permission ? Er—I rather fancy it isn't, Imperial Majesty ! Nightly the strange thefts continued. Peric, meanwhile, had no inkling of what his device was doing. By the way—have you managed to get any sense out of this confounded contraption ? Not yet, master. Maybe its workings are too difficult for me to comprehend—but I live in hopes. It would be simpler if I could remove it from the laboratory and work on it at home. Take it with my blessing. I don't think it will ever work properly. Thank you, master ! You old fool ! Little do you know that you are giving away a fortune !
Once the device was set up in his own lodgings, Robi was able to spend all his spare time in adding to his hoard. What about this ! I sneaked it out of the State Museum ! Wonderful ! Wonderful ! But what's this ? By all the stars, this ring you're wearing was supposed to have been returned days ago. What happened to its companion pieces, you rogue ? I—I sold them ! Well, why not ? I'm sick of taking stuff and then having to return it. Sold them ? You blundering dolt ! Don't you realise that if the city police trace these pieces back to you, we could both spend the next ten lunar years in the mines ? Get out and stay out ! I've finished with you ! Aaaaaaaaaaagh ! I've not finished with you, master ! Robi was in despair. All night long, he racked his brains for a solution to his problem. What am I to do ? I could pick another thief out of the gutter—but the same thing would happen again. If only I had an accomplice I could trust. And then—his eyes fell upon the strange device. And a wild idea sprang into his mind ! Supposing I were to make a duplicate of my own self ? There is only one person on Elekton I can really trust— myself !
I've not finished with you, master ! Robi was in despair. All night long, he racked his brains for a solution to his problem. What am I to do ? I could pick another thief out of the gutter—but the same thing would happen again. If only I had an accomplice I could trust.

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 499 on 7 August 1971.

 

The Duplication Machine (continued . . .)




It happened in a dark alleyway in a rough quarter of Trigan City. A figure leapt out at a passer-by, and a heavy cudgel was raised for a merciless blow.
But the blow never fell ! Uuuuuh . . . Hmmmm ! What have I caught ?—a sneak-thief of the worst and most contemptible type. But he will serve my purpose. Later, the footpad recovered consciousness. Aaaaah ! Where am I ? Don't hurt me, master. I—I meant no harm, I swear it ! You meant the worst possible harm, you rascal—but I am willing to overlook it. Robi sneered. In fact, I will do better than that—I will make you the richest rogue in Trigan City— If you obey me without question ! The following morning, Robi went to Air Fleet Headquarters. As assistant to Elekton's top scientist, he carried a pass that admitted him to the air strip. Here comes Janno now. I'll speak to him when he gets out of his craft. It's a good idea to be on good terms with a member of the Imperial family.
Janno recognised the young scientist. Hello ! Robi, isn't it ? As you see, my leg is mended, and I'm back on flying duty. Very glad to see you recovered, Lord Janno. I've brought something for you. Something you probably thought you'd lost for ever . . . My signet ring ! You dropped it the day you visited the laboratory, Lord Janno. I found it when I was sweeping up this morning. Janno was profuse in his thanks. He would have been surprised to have seen what Robi held in his hand as he walked away. Everybody's happy ! The stuck-up Lord Janno has his ring back —and I have an exact duplicate of it ! That night, Trigan City suffered the first of many inexplicable thefts. Robi's henchman stole a collection of gems from the home of a millionaire. Cry out—and it will be the last sound you ever make ! AAAAH ! Take the jewels ! Take anything—but don't hurt me ! He delivered them to the darkened laboratory where Robi waited. Good ! Now wait outside till I call you. You have one more task to perform before dawn. With the aid of the strange device he had secretly perfected, the ruthless young scientist duplicated the priceless gems. Ha ! Ha !—Nothing can stop me now—nothing ! By the end of the lunar year, I shall be able to buy and sell the Trigan Empire ! There was a surprise in store for his henchman, later. You ask me to return this loot to where I stole it from !— Master, have you gone mad ? No, my friend. I have not gone mad. I have simply discovered the perfect crime !

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 498 on 31 July 1971.